Apparatus for marine propulsion



M anfi, 1923.

' 1,447,527 A. E. BEEBE APPARATUS FOR MARINE PROPULSION Filed Jan. 14, 1922 4 sheets-sheet l l viar. 6, 1923.,

A. E. BEEBE APPARATUS FOR MARINE PROPULSION Filed Jan. '14

, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2 AQEBEEQE.

A TTOR/JEVS A. E. BEEBE APPARATUS FOR MARINE PROPULSION Filed Jan. 14, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 3 Mar. 6,. 1923. 1,447,527

A. E. BEEBE APPARATUS FOR MARINE PROPULSION 4 sheqets-sheet 4 Filed Jan. 14, 1922 M/l/Ef/TOR A= EUBEEBE.

ATTORNEYS Fatented Mar. 6, 1923 Tl t Fl i Q i "ALBERT EDGAR B'EEBE, or CATHAY, NORTH DAKOTA.

APPARATUS FOR MARINE PROPULSION.

Application filed January 14, 1922. Serial No. 529,331.

To all whom it may concei'n:

Be it known that I, ALBERT EDGAR BEEBE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cathay, in the county of \Vells and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Marine Propulsion, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an in'iprovenient in apparatus for marine. propulsion.

The object of; the invention is toprovide an-apparatus of this character which is adapted to operate either as a tractor or as a. propeller and which in either event operates to efficiently: propel or drive the boat insuch a manner as to develop a maximum degree of efliciency from a minimum expenditure of, power.

Another object is to provide-an apparatus of this character wherein means is provided for readily and easily reversing the propellers without shifting the engine r power plant used to drive the same.

Another object is to providea device of this character which is of simple and durable constructiomreliable in operation and easily and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Otherobjects and advantages of-the invention reside in certainnovel-features of construction, combination and arrangement of. parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and'paiticularly pointed out in the appended claims reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming: part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is atragnientary view in side elevation, illustrating one end of the boat equipped with the marine propelling apparatuswhich constitutes the present invention; 1

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic Vl6\V in bottom-plan;

Figure 3 is a' view in transverse vertical section taken approximately on line 3% Figure 1; v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary.perspective view, illustrating the propeller and its connection to the shiftable carrier and the reciprocating frames;

a Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view in plan illustrating-the reversingmeans of the propellers, and showing the propellers positioned or set for tor-ward,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the propellers set or positioned for reverse F gure 7 is a fragmentary View, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the driving mechanism and shifting mechanism for the propellers;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail view in plan of the shifting mechanism;

Figure 9 is a view of a modified form of the invention adapted only for one way movement.

Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shown the preferred embodimentsott' the invention and more particularly to'F-igures l to 9, inclusive, the reference character B designates a boat which may be of any desired type and which is-rquipped at one or both ends with the propulsion apparatus constituting the present invention. "The propulsion apparatus is designated generally at 1 and is arranged adjacent the 'end of the boat, the extreme end of the boat being equipped witha guard G consisting ofangularly arranged series of spaced and parallel bars or plates, indicated'at 9. Between the propulsion appara-tus and the guard G a rudder, designated atR is arranged.

The propulsion" apparatus which constitutes the present invention may be provided at each end of theboat and each propulsion apparatus preferably includes two units in dicatedat P andPZ-the units being superposed or arranged one above the other and driven from separate power plants or engines, the-arrangement being such that when the unit P is driving or propelling, the unit P is feathering and vice versa. A single stationary or main frame F is secured to the boat, as shown in Figure Land serves to support both the-units P and P the frameF including for this purpose an upper channel-way 10, alower'channel-way 11, and an intermediate or central channelway 12, the channel-ways '10, ill and 12 being connected to end pieces or frame memhere 13 and 14 to complete the main or stationary frame F. The unit P operates in the channel-Ways 10 and 12 of the stationa-ry frame and the unit P operates in the channel-ways 12 and 11 of the stationary frame, and-as theseunits P and P are of identical construction, a common description will serve for both. Each of the propulsion units includes a reciprocating frame, designated generally at 15 and comprising upper andlower longitudinally extending bars, indicated at 16 and 1'7, respectively, and end bars 18 and 19, respectively, the end bars being rigidly connected with the longitudi nal bars. The upper and lower longitudt nal bars 16 and 17 operate in the channelways of the stationary frame member, and if desired suitable anti-friction means may be provided between these channel bars and the frame members, the anti-friction means comprising roller bearings 20 and ball bearings 2101- other suitable devices. A shiftable propeller carrier, designated generally at 25, is mounted on the reciprocating frame, the carrier being received in slide-ways 26 and 27 provided in longitudinal bars 16 and 17 of the reciprocating frame. Anti-friction means such as roller bearings 28 and ball bearings 29 or other suitable anti-friction devices may be provided between the carrier and the slideways of the reciprocating frame.

A plurality of propellers, denoted generally at 30, are pivotally supported upon angle bars 31 secured to the propeller carrier. The propellers 30 are preferably arranged. in series on each side of the carrier and the propellers on one side of the slidable frame I are preferably alined with the propellers on the other side thereof. Obviously, any number of propellers may be employed. Each propeller comprises a vane or imperforate plate of metal, designated at 32, and wings 33 integral with or suitably secured to said vanes. Stays 35 and 36 are provided for each propeller, and each set of stays have their outer ends pivotally connected totheir propeller and attheir inner ends have sliding connections with flanges 37 provided on the reciprocating frame 16. Preferably a pair of stays35 is provided for each propeller and both stays 35 operated on one side of their propeller. Similarly, a pair of I stays 30 are provided for each propeller and operate on the opposite side of the propeller. The sliding connection between the stays and the flanges of the reciprocating frame is constituted by forming elongated slots 38 in the flanges and arranging sliding blocks 39 in said slots for reciprocatory movement and'pivotally connecting these sliding blocks 39 with the stays 35. Similarly the stays 36' have sliding connection with the flanges 37 of the reciprocating frame by providing slots 40 in the flanges and arranging sliding blocks 41 in the slots 40 and pivotally connecting thesesliding-blocks to the stays 36. The ends 38 and 4O of the slots present abutments with which the sliding blocks 39 and 41 respectively engage at certain times, as will be hereinafter more fully described. It is to-be understood of course that when by bring aboutrelative movement between the slots 38 and 40 and the blocks 39 and 41. When the slots 38 and 40 are so disposed with respect to the sliding blocks 39 and 41 that the sliding blocks 39 are not engageable with the abutment 38 of the slots 38 and the sliding blocks 40 are engageable with the abutments 40- of the slots 40, the propellers or vanes 30 are effective to propel or drive the boat in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 5,-that is forward if the propulsion apparatus is arranged at the stern of the heat. This is due to the fact that the reciprocating frame and carrier are actuated as a unit as will be hereinafter more fully described so that when the reciprocating frame is moved to the right in Figure 5 the propellers 30 will be eifective to impel the boat as after they are in a: position at right angles to the carrier as shown in full lines in Figure 5, they are held against further swinging motion due to the staying action of the stays 36 exerted by virtue of the engagement of the sliding blocks 41 of these stays 36 with the abutments 40 of the slots 40. W' hen the reciprocating frame is driven in the opposite direction that is to the left as viewed in Figure 5 the propellers or vanes 30' swing to the position shown in dotted lines or feather, and they are free to partake of this motion under the action of the water since the sliding blocks 39 may freely move in their slots 38 and since the sliding blocks 41 may move in the slots 40 away fromthe abutments 40*;

On the other hand when the carrier has been shifted so that the slots 38 and 40 have been moved relative to the sliding blocks 39 and 41 so that the sliding blocks 39 are engageable with the abutments 38 whereas the sliding blocks 41 are not engageable with the abutments 40 the propellers will be in reverse that is they will be effective to move the boat in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6. At this-time when the reciprocating frame is moved to the left in Figure 6, the stays 35 are effective to hold the propellers or vanes 30 in a position at right angles to the reciprocating frame and the carrier 25 as shown in full lines in Figure 6 since the sliding blocks 39 are engaged with the abutments 38 of the. slots "38. However, when the reciprocating frame and carrier are moved to the right as viewed in Figure 6 the propellers 3O feather that is they swing over to the position shown in dotted lines. This swinging movement being due to the action of the water since the sliding blocks 39 -are free to slide to the rightthat is away from the shoulders 38 and since the sliding blocks 41 freely move in their. slots 38 to accommodatethismoveof each power unit and forthe sake-ofillustrationone meanswhich may. be employed is shown in 'Figure 7-. In this form a steam engine, designated at 50, is provided and may be of any standard or. conventional type. The piston rod 51 of the engine is connected to a cross. head 52 operating in cross head guides 53. A yoke frame 54Qineluding spaced andparallelbars 55 and 56 is connected at one end-of the cross head and at the other end to. a hollow rod. 57

which'operates through suitable packing58 and which is connected to the reciprocating frame'l5 by. means of a coupling or connection 59. By this mechanism the engine is. efiective to actuate the reciprocating frame 15.

Shifting mechanism is provided for moving or shifting the. propeller carrier 25 relative to the reciprocating frame in order to vary the action of the propellers and this shifting mechanism also constitutes means for securing the carrier in adjusted position relative to the reciprocatingframe so that the carrier is constrained to partake. of the motion of the reciprocating frame and moves therewith as aunit; This means preferably comprises a rod 60 suitably connected .as at 61, to the carrier and employed between the hollow rod 57 and the rod 60. The inner endof the rod 60 operates between the bars 'and 56; of the yoke 54, and this innerrend carries a head 62 to which a T-shaped bar 63 is pivotally connected. The arms 64 and-65lof the T- shaped bar constitutes means whereby the rod may be moved, and these arms are also adapted to be received in slots 66, 67

and 68; provided in the bars 55 and 56 and.

to be held in any one of these slots by means of latching means 69. When the arms 64 and are seated in the slots 66, the propeller blades are in reverse. When they ar seated in the slots 67, the propeller blades are in neutral and will idly flap back and forth. When these blades are in the slots 68, the propeller blades are in forward. j

Obviously, the propulsion apparatus which constitutes the present invention may be arranged at the stern as indicated in the description of the operation of the reversing mechanism but it may be arranged at the bow, or again. one such apparatus may be arranged at the stern and another may be arranged at the bow of the same boat.

In the form of the invention shown in and received for reciprocatory motion in th extending through the hollow rod 57, suitable packing being Figure 10 the means for reversingthe action of the propeller is omitted and the propeller or vane which is designated at is pivotally mounted on aframe 7 6 which is itself mounted for reciprocatory movement drivenfrom any suitable form of power plant. Thus the shiftable propeller carrier. is. omitted in this embodiment of the invention and the frame 76 itself'constitutes the reciprocating frame and corresponds to the reciprocating framev 15 of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8 and hereinabove described. The frame 7 6 has flanges or bars 77 extending longitudinallythereof and provided with slots 78. A single set of stays, designated at 'T 9 is pro vided, and these stays 7 9 are pivotally connected at one end, as at S0,and has-*ingisliding blocks 81 pivoted to their opposite'ends slots 78. One end ofthe slots 78 constitutes an abutment forthesliding block and this abutment is designated at 83; It is obvious when the frame 76 is moved in one direction, the propeller or vane 75 will beheld in position at right angles to the frame by virtue of the. staying action of the stays since at this time the sliding blocksof the stays are, engaged with the abutments of the slots. WV'hen however the frame is moved in the opposite direction. the propeller will feather as it is free to swing over against the frame since the sliding blocks are free to moveaway from the abutments to accommodate. this movement.

It is obvious that while. only one form of sliding connectionis shown in conjunction with both embodiments of the invention any suitable or well knownv type of connection ofthis character may be utilized,.and it is obvious that various other changes in the form, roportions and minor details of constructionmay .be resorted to withoutdepart ing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a marine propulsion apparatus including a main frame having channelways therein, a reciprocating frame operating in said channelways, means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said reciprocating frame, said reciprocating frame having slideways therein, a shiftable propeller carrier operating in said slideways, means for moving said carrier relative to said reciprocating frame and for locking said carrier in adjusted position, a series of propellers pivotally connected to said carrier, flanges carried by said reciprocating frame and having slots therein on each side of each of said propellers, one end of each of said slots constituting an abutment, a set of stays cooperating with each of said propellers from each side thereof, each of said Stays being pivotally connected at their outer ends to saidxpropellers, a sliding block pivotally connected to the inner end of each of said stays and received for sliding motion in the adjacent slot of the flange of the reciprocating frame.

- QFIn an apparatus of the character described, a reciprocating frame, a propeller carrier, means for adjusting said carrier rel-v ative to 'said reciprocating frame and for securing said carrierin adjusted position, a propeller pivotally connected to the-carrier,

' flanges carried. by the reciprocating frame having slots therein on each side of said propeller, stays pivotally connected at their outer ends to the propeller, one of said stays operating on one-side of said propeller and the other of said. stays operating on the other side and sliding blocks pivotally connected to the inner ends of the stays and operating in the slots of the flanges, each of the slots:

having one end constituting an abutment, either of said abutments being adapted to be positioned to be engaged by the sliding block operating in its slot, the engagement of one of said abutments or theother of said abutments with its sliding block being con trolled by the adjustment of said shiftable propeller carrier. a

in an apparatus of the character desition comprising a' rod slidably vextending through the hollow rod and connected to said carrier, and a Teshaped bar pivotally.

connected to saidrod, said yoke frame having a series of notches therein cooperable with said T-shaped bar for locking the same in adjusted position.

lrIn an apparatus of scribed, in combination withia boat, a main frame having an upper .cl1annelway,-a lower channel, and intermediate.channelways, a propelling unit operating in theupper channelways andone oftheintermediate channelways, asecond propelling unit operating in the lower channelway and theotherintermediate channelway, separate power means for each of said propellingunits, each of said propelling units including a reciprocatmgframe, a1 'slnftable propeller carrier,

series of swinging vanes, and'means for limiting-the movement of said swinging vanes in one direction; 1 V

54In an apparatus ofthe characterdescribed, a reciprocating frame, a shiftable propeller carrier mounted thereon, as'wing ing propeller pivotally mounted on the carrier, stays pivotally connected at their outer ends to said propeller, oneofsaid stays operating on one side of said propeller and the other of said stays operatingon the other side thereof, sliding connections between the inner ends of said stays and said, reciprocating frame, said reciprocating frame havlng an abutment for each-of said sliding connections, either of said abutments being adapted to be brought into position to be engaged with the sliding connection or to be moved beyond the distance-traversedby its sliding connection-"upon movement of" said shiftablepropeller carrier, whereby said' propeller maybe reversedi ALBERT EDGAR BEEBE.

the: character ,del 

